“Do you think you’re ready?” Rick asked after Max had managed to take three of his fingers. Rick had big hands, and even three of his fingers stretched him more than he was used to, but the gentle burn felt good so far.
“Do it,” Max gasped, letting go of his straining cock so he didn’t risk coming the second Rick pressed against his hole. He heard the rip of a condom foil and turned to watch as Rick rolled it on and then added more lube. As Rick straddled him and lined up, Max rested his forehead against the pillow and closed his eyes. This was it. No turning back. Rick rested his solid cock between Max’s asscheeks, and Max took a deep breath as Rick slowly pushed inside, creating even more of a burn, stretching him even wider.
He stopped and gave Max a chance to get used to the feeling, and somehow read Max’s body perfectly. Each time Max relaxed enough and felt like he could take more, Rick edged inside without him having to say anything. It still hurt like hell. But he had Rick inside him. Max squeezed his eyes shut and smiled. Being so close to him was gut-wrenchingly special—not like he’d ever experienced before—and he wished it didn’t have to end, that they could stay like this forever. Rick gripped his hips and edged inside a little more, and finally he was all the way inside. Max took hold of his flagging cock and jerked himself, and the pain gave way to the most incredible sensation. He groaned and fell forward, willing Rick to take total control so he could savor every second. Rick’s strong grip held him in place, and he stayed with him as he fell, the weight of his body on top of him just enough and not crushing him at all.
“You feel amazing,” Rick said and kissed the side of Max’s neck, and Max pressed back against him with a groan. “You okay for me to move?”
“Uh-huh.”
When Rick began to pull out and then thrust back inside, Max was in heaven. “Go as hard as you like,” he breathed.
“You sure?”
“Yeah.”
“I won’t last if I do that.” Rick’s voice was husky.
“Don’t care,” Max managed, and suddenly he didn’t. He pushed back against Rick and gripped himself hard as he jerked himself faster. He was so close to coming now, it was all he could focus on. The delicious friction inside his ass as Rick thrust harder added with the sensations from his hand and tipped him over the edge. He came hard, clenching and releasing around Rick’s cock deep inside him as come spurted from his cock. Rick’s hold on his hips tightened and his movements became sharper, and then he was shouting out as he came.
Rick collapsed against him, breathing hard. He seemed to realize he was crushing Max—not that Max minded much right now, if he died like this he’d die happy—and then he pulled out. It was the weirdest sensation, kind of tickly, and Max almost laughed.
“You okay?” Rick asked as he lay on his back and dealt with the condom.
“Fuck, yes.” Max draped his arm across Rick’s chest and closed his eyes as he caught his breath. “God, that’s gonna ache later.”
“Yeah. But it’s totally worth it,” Rick said. “I think so, anyway. I love getting fucked.”
“I’m sure you’re right. That felt so good.” He opened one eye and caught Rick staring at him.
“Yeah?” Rick asked and held him tight.
“Yeah,” Max said and sighed, cuddling up as close as he possibly could.
MAX MUST have nodded off. When he opened his eyes again, Rick was sitting on the mattress holding the guitar and quietly pressing his fingers against the strings. He didn’t notice Max watching at first and jumped when Max spoke.
“I can give you some lessons if you like?”
“Maybe next time,” Rick said and laid the guitar carefully on the floor. “I didn’t realize you were awake.”
“Yeah, sorry. I only got a couple of hours sleep before I stopped by. We didn’t finish band practice until about four.” Max shoved back the comforter, sat up, and stretched. He could still feel where Rick had been inside him earlier, and he smiled at the memory.
“Are you hungry or can I get you a drink?” Rick asked.
“I’m starving, actually. How much longer have we got?”
“About an hour.”
“Is that all?” Their stolen moments together never felt long enough. Max had dared to stay the night a couple of times, and he had posted on his social media so it looked like he was out drinking and had stayed at some girl’s house again to keep Tony off his back and from asking awkward questions about where he’d been. It had worked, but Max didn’t dare do that too frequently in case he got caught out.
“Did you say you brought some food?”
“Yeah, I did.” Max jumped to his feet and rummaged in his bag until he found the tub.
“What have we got?”
“Burritos. I found this great new recipe that uses a ton of beans and different spices. There’s no meat in them but they taste so good, even when they’re cold.” He handed one to Rick and took one for himself.
“No meat?” Rick frowned and cautiously sniffed at it.
Max laughed. “Don’t you trust my cooking by now?”
Rick took a tiny bite and then groaned. “That is so good. You’d better not turn me vegetarian.”
“Hardly.” Max tucked into his own burrito and then asked, “How are things at home? Didn’t you say your dad’s friend was staying this week?”
“What, Dietmar? Yeah, he arrived yesterday afternoon. He’s actually staying for ten days, not a week, so he’ll be here for the jamboree. He’s helping my dad show the Harley.”
“Will you be there?” Max glanced at Rick. He’d been hoping Rick would be going, but hadn’t asked him because he knew Rick was usually really busy on Saturdays.
“Yeah. I’ve cancelled the classes that weekend, so I’ll be there the whole time. There was no point in holding them. I think the entire town will be at the jamboree.”
“True.” There was always a good turnout. Max couldn’t wait to perform there. After that, he’d be busy with the whole-hog competition with Sian. “You’ll have to come and say hi. It’ll be difficult for me to get away.”
“I’ll come find you.” Rick finished the last of his burrito and then leaned across and kissed him. “So what was this you said about changing my walkout music? I’m dying to hear it, and we don’t have much time left.”
Max was so excited about this. He’d spent most of the week trying out different riffs to find something that would sound awesome as well as suiting Rick’s personality and taste. It had to be powerful too. Something to get him fired up and ready to fight. Combining those elements had been seriously tough. But he thought he’d hit on something. The one thing he still didn’t have were the lyrics, but he could figure those out later.
“I have it recorded on my cell phone. I also put together a decent playlist for you to use for your warmup.”
“Yeah?”
“I’ll send it to you. It’s a mix of heavy electronica. Kind of like what they use at Black Ivy.”
“Oh, I liked what they were playing in there.”
“And there I was thinking it would be a challenge to convert your music taste.” Max grinned and scrolled through his cell to find the latest version of Rick’s walkout music. “Here it is. Ready?” Rick nodded. “Close your eyes and pretend you’re about to walk out for your fight. See if it feels right. We can change it however you like. Or start again if you hate it.”
Rick obediently closed his eyes and Max hit Play, holding his breath and watching Rick to see his reaction.
The track intro had a light, fast guitar sequence. It had a cheeky feel to it, Max thought, and sure enough Rick smiled at those first bars. The slow, deep drumbeat came in next, and then Max had mixed it up. A short verse that had a funky rhythm followed, and then he’d used heavy chords that led into the faster chorus. He’d included some of the slap-bass riffs he’d been playing at Hugh’s the day they’d gotten his guitar, and also used an interesting, but slightly unusual, drumbeat to give the chorus a unique feel. The track finished af
ter the verse had played for the second time. Max was planning to add the rest in later if Rick liked it.
“What do you think?”
Rick opened his eyes. His grin couldn’t have been any wider. He leaned over and kissed Max. “I love it—”
“I was thinking of adding some vocals maybe… what do you reckon? I’ve been struggling to come up with anything good at the moment, though.”
“Would it be you singing them?”
Max nodded. “If you wanted, that is.”
“I’d love that.”
“Is there anything else you want changed? Please be honest. There are a couple of—”
Rick pressed his finger to Max’s lips. “Don’t change a thing. Honestly. I can’t believe you did this for me. Thank you.” He removed his finger and kissed Max again, deeper this time, and as they fell back onto the mattress, Max wished they had longer together. He hadn’t realized Rick was going to be this grateful. If he had, he would’ve played it for him as soon as he’d arrived.
CHAPTER TEN
Rick
“HAND ME the wrench, will you?”
Rick rummaged through the toolkit and shielded his eyes from the glinting metal before handing it to his dad. It was the perfect day for the Elfinbrook jamboree. It was late July, and there was a rare cooling breeze that cut through the early morning heat. He hoped it stayed for the rest of the day, or he was going to get burned.
“How many others are showing their bikes, Jakob?” Dietmar asked.
“About another fifty, I think.”
“I’m surprised by the turnout. I didn’t realize Elfinbrook was so big.”
Rick picked up a rag and polished the fairing of his dad’s Harley. “People travel here from all over. It’s quite a big deal.”
“What time is your friend’s band playing?”
“Not until lunchtime.” It had been such a great week, and he’d seen Max almost every day, although it was usually only for an hour here and there as Max had been busy preparing for today. They’d even been doing Max’s “ninja” lessons—Rick smiled as he remembered how Max hadn’t been kidding about his total lack of coordination. He was doing really well with the self-defense stuff, though.
He had such a great surprise for Max. Dietmar ran a chain of music venues over in England, and after Rick had played him Purple Method’s first two albums, Dietmar was seriously considering offering to fly them over to perform at his alternative music clubs in London.
The smell of grilling bacon and onions wafted in the air, and Rick looked across the field to the food court. His dad had insisted on them leaving at five in the morning to get there before the crowds, as he hated being rushed, but it had been a bit early for Rick, so he’d rolled out of bed and into the car without so much as getting coffee. It had just passed eight now, and he was starving.
“Looks like the food trucks have fired up. Shall I get us some breakfast?”
“Would you like a hand?” Dietmar asked, and Rick shook his head as his dad handed him a fifty-dollar bill.
“No, I can manage. Back in a bit.”
Running to the first food truck, he joined the short line and was deliberating between a breakfast burrito and a bacon panini when somebody head butted his back. What the hell? He spun around, about to confront them, but then he realized it was Max, who looked barely in the land of the living. “Hey. You’re up early.”
“One hour’s sleep.” He peered up at Rick, his eyes bloodshot. “I had one fucking hour’s sleep.”
“Want me to hold you up until you get coffee?”
Max nodded and leaned against Rick’s arm.
He had been kidding, thinking Max wouldn’t want this kind of contact with him in public, but he seemed too out of it to care. He’d closed his eyes, and Rick wouldn’t have been surprised if he’d fallen back asleep even though he was still standing. “You gonna be okay to sing later?”
“Yeah,” Max said, his voice muffled against Rick’s T-shirt.
“You’re cute when you’re sleepy.”
“Fuck off.”
Rick snickered and maneuvered Max forward as the line moved, nudging him as they reached the front of the line. “What are you having?”
“Biggest coffee they have, black, sugar.”
“Any food?”
“Na.”
“Sure? My dad’s paying.”
He waved the fifty-dollar bill in Max’s face, and Max briefly opened one eye. “Bacon panini, all the fixings.”
Rick made their order and was handed four coffees, one extra-large, Max’s panini, and three breakfast burritos. “Can you give me a hand taking these back over there?” He nodded toward the bike show as he scooped up the drinks carrier. Max held out his hands, and Rick loaded him up with the burritos. Somehow, Max also managed to eat his panini as they walked.
“How come you’re here so early, anyway?” Rick asked.
“We’ve got to get set up for both the gig and the hog competition.”
“I thought the hog competition wasn’t until tomorrow?”
Max’s eyes opened wide, and he looked at him as if he were stupid.
“What? What did I say?”
“You really don’t cook at all, do you.” Max shook his head and sighed. “We gotta start it today. There’s the meat inspection at nine, and it takes a long time to prep and cook a whole hog. And then there’re all the fixings to get perfect. The competition’s tough even at a small event like this one.”
“I thought you came sixth last year?”
“Yeah, and this year we’re gonna win.”
“If you can wake up in time, that is.”
Max elbowed him in his ribs, right on the spot where he was still bruised from a fight he’d had a couple of days back. It was a deep one, and although his ribs had ached, his skin hadn’t colored until today. “That’s not funny.” Max looked up at him through his hair that had fallen forward. “We take this very seriously. We even got a new smoker for this year. Sian’s setting it up now.”
“Sian? Was she expecting you to get her a drink?”
“Yeah.” Max sighed. “I’ll get it on the way back.”
Dietmar waved as they got closer, and Rick wondered if this was the best idea. It was too late to turn back now, though. Max was about to meet the man who could give Purple Method an amazing opportunity, and Max was barely with it and looked as though he had just fallen out of bed. Not that Rick was complaining about that last part. It had better not put Dietmar off; he’d kick himself if he thought he’d jeopardized this.
“Hope you’re hungry,” Rick said and put the drinks down on the toolbox. He took the burritos from Max and handed them out.
“Max, this is Dietmar, and my dad, Jakob.”
“Hey,” Max said with a mouthful of bacon and gave them a little wave as he reached for his coffee.
Dietmar was frowning, and Rick groaned when he saw Dietmar’s outstretched hand that Max had ignored. He was willing to bet he hadn’t even noticed.
“Max,” Rick said and nodded at Dietmar.
“Sorry.” Max clenched his panini between his teeth and shook Dietmar’s hand. “Had a bit too much to drink this morning.”
What? It was all Rick could do to stop himself from dropping his head into his hands and groaning. “Don’t you mean last night?” He glared at Max, hoping he would somehow get the hint.
Max took a long slurp from his bucket of coffee. “Nah, it was definitely this morning. Tony and Kyle are wrecked too. We were all up till six. We wouldn’t have made it at all if it wasn’t for Sian waking us up. This gig today’s gonna be interesting.”
“Yes, I’d say it probably is,” Dietmar said.
“You’ll have to come see us. We’re a bit heavy, though, so it’s probably not your thing.”
“Max,” Rick said, “why don’t I come with you to find the others, and you can show me where you’ve set up for the hog competition.” The quicker he got him out of there, the better, although he couldn’t see
how it could get any worse.
“Sure. Hey, could you help them with the smoker? That thing’s fucking heavy. We need to get everything unloaded quick so they can get back home to pick up our equipment for the gig. Luckily it’s not far—”
“Them?” Dietmar asked. “Aren’t you going to help too?”
“My talents lie elsewhere—”
Rick grabbed Max’s shoulders and spun him around. “We should go. Dad, I’ll be back later.”
“Okay.”
“What the hell was that?” Rick hissed once they were far enough away.
“What?” Max peered up at him and swallowed the last of his panini.
“That was my dad.” Rick stared at Max’s blank face and sighed. He really wasn’t getting it. “Did you think telling him how hungover or drunk you were was going to make a good first impression?”
Max frowned. “You think I should’ve lied? How would that have made a good impression?”
“No… not lied, just… I dunno, maybe held back a little on the truth.”
“Oh.”
They walked in silence past the stunt-bike area toward the hog competition areas that were visible in the hazy distance. Every time Rick looked across at him, Max took a long drink of coffee and made a point of looking at anything other than Rick. Great. That was all he needed. He’d been looking forward to this weekend, looking forward to being able to spend some quality time with Max, getting to know his friends better, and to seeing a side of Max that still mystified him.
“You gonna ignore me for the whole rest of the weekend?” Rick asked.
“I dunno. You stopped being embarrassed by me yet?”
“You don’t embarrass me.”
Max gave him a sidelong glare. “I might not be as smart or as worldly as you, but don’t you dare take me for a fool.”
“That’s not….” Max sped up and Rick jogged to catch him, grabbing his arm to stop him. “That’s not it.”
Max shrugged from his grasp and went on walking.
“For fuck’s sake, Max, will you at least listen to me before you make up your mind that I’m some kind of asshole?”
Purple Method Page 18